In Northern Ireland a £28 million contract to build a new government-owned research vessel (RV) has been awarded to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon Vigo S.A.
The contract for the 52.8m newbuild comes from the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) which awarded the tender with the northern Spain yard on 26 March. The new research vessel for the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is designed to meet the strict underwater noise requirements defined in the ICES 209 report.
The announcement followed a £1.85 million contract for the ST-366 design awarded to Norwegian naval architects Skipsteknisk AS, based in January 2021. The Ålesund-based practice, as Afloat previously reported, also designed the 53m RV Tom Crean (see 'name' story) for the Marine Institute's, which was built in 2022, costing €25 million, and was commissioned in the same year.
The North’s newbuild will replace the AFBI's 35-year-old research vessel RV Corystes, was which acquired second-hand from UK based Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). The vessel operates out of Belfast and conducts surveys beyond domestic waters.
To be built to the ST-366 design, the research vessel is due to be delivered in February 2027, and AFBI said the new vessel will strengthen and support marine science operations in Northern Ireland for the next three decades.
This will be the first hybrid ship said AFBI to operate within the UK and Ireland’s regional research vessel fleet, and will be capable of spending 21 days at sea.
More from The Irish News on the newbuilding story..
